New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-09
HIGHWAYMEN IN THE POST OFFICE.
OPENLY ROBBED IN ONE OF THE HALLS.

A CONVENIENT LURKING PLACE FOR THIEVES
BAD MANAGEMENT OF THE CUSTODIAN.
A stranger, who would not give his name but who had
the appearance and manner Of a respectable man, re-
ported Commissioner shields yesterday that he had
just been the witness of gross outrage committed In
OF the corridors Of the Federal building He said
that he four engaged, rs he at first thought
in friendly struggle among themselves In
the corridor not fifty feet from the door OF Mr. Shiedss
Office Suddenly of the pulled the watch out OF
the pocket Of another who well dressed. and
the companions OF the first oued him in robbing
the weldressed stranger OF his watch and and
pulled diamond ring from his finger. The man who
robbed made slight oucry but whilo the nformer
going for help, the thieves seized the welldressed
man. hustled him between them down the stairs and
of.
No one else could be found who saw the occurrence,
and superintendent Fryer has left the building almost
unguarded no watchman was near the place. The fact
that the did not vigorously protest and did
report at to the United states officials, throw
doubt the story, but OF the officers about
the building suggested that the man who was
robbed might himself have been concerned in
some criminal act In the building and have
submitted to the theft rather than the risk Of ex
pOsnre.
The Incident served call attention to the many COM
plants that have recently been made about the careless
which is shown under the present alninstra OF
the cusolian's Office for the safety of visitors to the
Federal Building Under previous custolians watch
detailed to each floor and they useful as
the building Is large has many starways and Is OF so
peculiar shape that IL Is easy for thief acquainted
with the building to hide and escape. Mr..
Fryer has reduced the number of watchmen for the four
upper s'or IS TO one This watchnan an elderly man.
Is faithful in making his rom Is but as he has thousands
OF feet of hall ways AMI srarways to guard is not an
obstacle in the OF we'll planned robbery thousands
OF men and women visit the building to draw money
from tho cr department. and though Oicer
IL guard In that department. he cannot protect
the visitors out OF sight or the money order ONCE
FINE PLACES FOR THIEVES TO LIE IN WAIT.
IIiIng places for thieves and loafers are proydod
through the action OF Mr. Fryer who has directed that
all avatOries in the building shall be kept unlocked
These avaOries large series Of rooms OF
which there several each floor The custom under
previous csolns has been TO keep all OF these rooms
lockel except public one, and open Of the
others only when court Is actually In session
In the opposite to it, officials in the building
have frequently complained that loafcrs who are be-
licvei be eli her dishonest immoral, frequent these
rooms. One the officials caught a man yester
dav OF these and took him 20 the MarsnaIs
Office but the strongly protested that he was
"a respectable ami the direct evidence against hiin
insufficient he allowed tO Persons familiar
with tho bull ling that they never have felt
unsafe from injury Insult under the present ad
mnistraton.
The plea of economy has been set to account for the
dismissal of watchmen yet there has never been as much
money spent in the building In the space or time
snce ts erection, In the last or two The court
and apartments for Judges have been increased
ahO Il onehdf in area and there are now SIX court
rooms. though IL event to have more than three
courts In Mr.. Fryer has also. since he
building for his office. In place OF the modest guar
formerly occupied by the superintendent OF repairs
the protection afforded under previous admins
tlaOns.